Constructive arrangement in floor finishing element

ABSTRACT

Floor panels are secured to a sub-floor by elongated elements, one of which is secured to the floor itself and has an inverted T-shape, the other of which elements defines downwardly open socket means for receiving an arrow shaped projection on the stem portion of that T-shaped support element. A precise fit is afforded between these elements 1 and 2 so that the floor panels are locked in place by engagement between the arrow shaped projection in the support element and the socket portion of the upper retaining element. An alternative version of the disclosure shows a more secure connection between these elements.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of currently pending U.S.application Ser. No. 11/520,366 filed Sep. 13, 2006, the disclosure ofwhich is incorporated by reference herein. The following three designpatent applications are also incorporated by reference herein, andpriority to the following U.S. Design applications is also made: U.S.Ser. No. 29/279,789, entitled FLOORING SUPPORT STRIP, filed May 8, 2007;U.S. Ser. No. 29/279,790, entitled FLOOR STEP, filed May 8, 2007; andU.S. Ser. No. 29/279,791 entitled FLOOR/WALL FINISH MOLDING filed May 8,2007.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention deals generally with extruded polymeric or metal floorsupport elements to anchor floor panels to an existing sub-floor orstructure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The use of laminated floors of wood in residential and commercialbuildings is well known. Such laminated floors are generally provided insegments or panels that are generally mounted parallel to one anotherabove a sub-floor.

Present technology provides for the anchoring of these floor panels bynails or by the use of adhesive, which leads to some problems when thefloor panels are laminated with a top layer of polymeric materials, suchas Formica or its melamine equivalent. The marginal edges of such panelstend to splinter absent the use of an edging or other treatment for themarginal edges of the panel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention a support structure comprises aplurality of elongated floor panels, support elements having a crosssectional shape of inverted T-shape, with upwardly facing lands forsupporting the marginal edges of adjacent panels. The panels are spacedapart so that the T-shaped central stem portion projects upwardlybetween the spaced panels. An arrow shaped upper portion of the stem ismore particularly defined by depending divergent legs that terminateabove these lands.

A plurality of elongated panel retaining elements, each having adownwardly facing land for abutting a top surface of at least one of thepanels is provided for mating with these support elements. Each panelretaining elements has a downwardly open elongated socket for receiving,and retaining, the arrow shaped upper stem portion of the supportelement. The socket is more particularly defined by depending ribs whichare resiliently derformable projections that include barbed lower endportions for anchoring the retaining elements to the underlining supportelements.

In another version of the invention the retaining element has one sidefor engaging one marginal edge of a panel, and the opposite side definesan inclined ramp for use at a doorway or entryway, that leads to an areafitted with floor panels in accordance with the present invention. Thus,a transition is created between the slightly raised new floor affordedby these panels, and the original sub-floor or other existing floor areaadjacent to the floor panels and support/retaining elements of thepresent invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows in perspective a support structure in accordance with thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view, also in perspective, to show the variouselements of the present invention with reference to adjacent panels in afloor such as that of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an end view of the retaining element shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view illustrating two floor panels assembled witha support element 1 and retaining element 2, these elements being inassembled relationship in FIG. 4.

FIG. 5 shows a floor panel such as that depicted in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4together with an extruded retaining element 3 for transitioning from theexisting floor Q to the paneled floor P.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the components illustrated in assembledrelationship in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an end view of the retaining element 3 depicted in FIGS. 5 and6.

FIG. 8 shows the retaining element 3 of FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 assembled witha panel support element 1 of the type described with reference to FIGS.1-4 inclusively.

FIG. 9 shows in an alternative flooring support strip similar to thatillustrated in FIG. 6 at reference numeral 1.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing an alternative embodiment for thefloor step illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 above.

FIG. 11 shows in perspective an alternative form for the floor/wallfinish molding illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 above.

FIG. 12 is an assembly of the components from FIG. 9 and FIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF FIRST EMBODIMENT

In accordance with the present invention a preferred form comprisesthree unique elements of different profiles, or cross sectional shapes.

A support element 1 as an upwardly projecting stem portion that mateswith a downwardly open socket defining means in a retaining element 2. Athird element 3 can be used with the support element to transition fromthe sub floor to a paneled floor.

Thus, panel support element 1 has an inverted T-shaped cross sectionfeaturing a flat bottom surface, marginal edges arranged at an angleand, a central portion provided between opposed land areas that receivethe panels. The central stem portion is of inverted V-shape so as toform an arrow 6. This arrow shape 6 is adapted to fit into and engage asocket-defining portion provided for this purpose at the underside ofthe retaining element 2.

The retaining element 2 also defines lands opposite the lands in thepanel support element 1, so that the panels can be clamped or retainedbetween these elements 1 and 2 as a result of engagement between thearrow shaped portion and the inverted socket defining portion at theunderside of the retaining element 2.

It will be apparent that the socket means defined in surface of element2 has barbed lower ends on ribs 8 and 9 for engaging the outer sides ofthe depending legs on the arrow shaped portions 6 of the invertedT-shaped support element 1. These barbed lower ends of the legs of thearrow 6 define a height corresponding to the height of the panel P inFIG. 4. It is a further feature of the present invention that theretaining element of FIG. 3 has a slightly concave under surface, whichallows some flexing in element 2 during the assembly process itself,whereby to anchor the panels in the position shown for them in FIG. 4where the marginal edges are spaced apart a distance such that agenerous overlap is provided between the downwardly facing lands of thetop element 2 and the panels P, P. The spacing between the panels P, Pis preferably on the order of the width of each of these lands in theretaining element 2.

One of the steps in installing the floor structure of the presentinvention is to first provide blankets M between the support elements 1,1 for properly spacing these elements 1, 1 on the sub-floor, and toprovide additional support for the panels between the lands defined inthese support elements 1, 1.

As a result of the overlapping relationship between the retainingelement 2 and the edges of the panels P, P it is apparent that the paneledges will be protected, and not susceptible to cracking as a result ofthese edges being effectively protected by the retaining element 2.

In order to assemble the above described components screws are providedin locating grooves formed in the underlying support element 1 (see theguide grooves 7) which grooves are so located as to facilitate aligningof the panel edges during the assembly process.

Where the laminated floor panel P is to transition with a sub-floor,such as that shown at Q, and a different height is provided for the newfloor panels P and the old floor Q, a different profile shape or crosssection for the retaining element is provided for (see element 3 in FIG.7, 8 and 9).

The element 3 is anchored to the support element 1 in the same fashionas described previously with reference to retaining element 2.

Detailed Description of Alternative Embodiment

The newly added drawings, FIGS. 9, 10 and 11 show an alternative, orsecond preferred embodiment for the components of flooring elementsillustrated in FIGS. 4, 7/8 and 3/4 in the first above-describedembodiment of the present invention.

More particularly, FIG. 9 shows an improved flooring support strip 10having the same flat underside for resting on an existing floorstructure, as described with reference to element number 1 in the firstdescribed embodiment of the invention. The stem portion has a slightlydifferent double arrow cross sectional configuration to better engageand hold a molding strip, such as that described with reference to FIGS.2, 3, 4 of the first described embodiment, or for use with an improvedflooring support strip or base of the second preferred embodiment. FIG.10 illustrates improved floor step which offers an alternative to thesloped step of the previous embodiment, as described with reference toFIGS. 6 and 8 above.

Finally, FIG. 11 shows an alternative to the retaining element 2 ofFIGS. 3 and 4 above, and differs therefrom chiefly in the details of thecross-section thereof. The element 20 of FIG. 11 is useful at thejuncture of the floor with a wall, as shown in FIG. 12

In conclusion, and as shown in FIG. 9, we see an alternativeconfiguration for an extruded element of the present invention thatdiffers significantly from that of the first described embodiment of myoriginal application. More particularly, the arrow portion of the stemin FIG. 9 is provided with a plurality of arrow shaped portions, thatoffers a plurality of interlocking abutments between this element andthe socket defining support strip or base of FIG. 9. As best shown inFIG. 12, depending flange, f, abuts the flooring support strip 10 foradded rigidity of the retaining element 20 and support element 10 whenassembled as shown in FIG. 12.

1. A support structure for floor panels (P, P), said support structurecomprising; a plurality of elongated panel support elements 1, 1 havinga cross section of inverted T-shape with upwardly facing lands forsupporting a bottom surface of the panels, said T-shape including acentral stem having an arrow shaped upper portion defined by dependingdivergent legs that terminate above said retaining element lands, aplurality of elongated panel retaining elements 2, 2 having downwardlyfacing lands for abutting a top surface of the panels, said panelretaining elements further including downwardly open elongated socketmeans for receiving and retaining said arrow shaped upper portion ofsaid support elements, said socket means more particularly defined bybarbed ends 9, 9 provided on resiliently deformable projections 8, 8 insaid panel retaining elements.
 2. The support structure according toclaim 1 wherein said retaining element is symmetrical about a verticalplane centered between said downwardly facing lands, and said socketmeans cooperating with said arrow shaped portion for clampingside-by-side floor panels in laterally spaced relation to one another,said lateral spacing of the panels being at least approximately equal tothe lateral width of each of said retaining element lands.
 3. Thesupport structure according to claim 1 wherein said retaining element isnot symmetrical about a vertical plane centered in said downwardly opensocket, and said retaining element land defined on one side only of saidsocket means, the opposite side thereof defining an inclined ramp havinga height of approximately the thickness of the panels.
 4. The supportstructure according to claim 1 wherein support element lands have anchorscrew guiding groves 7, 7 that are also used to align the marginal edgesof the panels during assembly.
 5. The support structure according toclaim 1 wherein said support elements and said retaining elements areextruded, and wherein said elements have a constant cross sectionthroughout the lengths thereof.
 6. The support structure according toclaim 1 wherein said retaining element downwardly facing lands define aslightly concave configuration that tends to flatten out when the floorpanels are provided between said assembled panel support and retainingelements.
 7. The support structure according to claim 1, wherein saidcentral stem has a secondary arrow shaped upper portion spaced belowsaid first mentioned arrow shaped upper portion and defined by dependingdivergent legs that are spaced below said first mentioned dependingdivergent legs, and said panel retaining element having a dependingflange parallel to and laterally spaced from said central stem forabutting said panel support element when these elements are assembled.